Splitting machine



l July 8, 1930- H. A. BALLARD 1,769,935

SPLITTING MACHINE :Ln 'v' Filed Jan. 5o, 192s 5 sheets-sheet 1 Q lao F is

INVENTOR July 8, 1930.

H.A,EALLARD SPLITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 30, 1928 '5 Sheets-Sheet July 8, 1930. A. AEwaLLurm 1,769,935

SPLITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 30, 1928 5 Sheefcs-Sheet L July 8, 1930. H. A. BALLARD SPLITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 30, 1928 5 sheets-sheet 4 0N OOM ...d

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Y INVENTOR Uff,

Patented July S, 193;@

narran sraras Partnr ori-ice HAREIE A. BALLARD, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE TURNER TANNING MACHNERY COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, IvAINE, A CORPORATION 0F MAINE SPLITTING- MACHINE Application filed January 30, 1928. Serial No. 250,646.

This invention relates to splitting machines and is illustrated as embodied in a machine for splitting fabrics such as carpets.

Machines have heretofore been constructed for the purpose of splitting carpets or other fabrics woven double, that is, with two back or foundation pieces joined face to face by piling so that upon splitting the piling at a predetermined distance from one back piece, two carpets (for example), are produced each with a back piece or base fabric and a face of piling or nap of uniform depth. As constructed, these machines were provided with work engaging members which served the purpose of positioning the carpet or other fabric relatively to a cutter operative to sever the piling between the base fabrics of the double woven fabric. rlhese work engaging members were also intended to place the fabric under a certain amount of tension so that the double woven fabric might be controlled in such a way as to permit satisfactory cutting of the piling between the base fabrics. Such prior constructions, however, have not aroved satisfactory for the reason, no doubt, that in attempting to make the same pair of work engaging members serve both as work positioning and as work tensioning 'means neither function has been accomplished successfully under the varying conditi-ons of actual factory operations. In this connection it is point-ed out that work tensioning means must grip the work with considerable pressure in order to retard its movement and thus place it under tension, while work positioning means should not grip the work since that would means distortion of the fabric at a point near to the cutting edge of the cutter. lit is not known that the described prior art constructions are now being used anywhere in the industry. n

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved machine for the splitting of fabrics and other similar materials which are woven double and subsequently severed to provide two pieces of fabric. More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide improved work positioning means and work tensioning means so organized that each may perform its function without any limitation imposed by the necessities of construction and mode of operation of the other.

To these ends, and in accordance with important features of the invention there is provided, means for tensioning the work before its presentation to a cutting instrumentality,

erably and as shown, the bed plates serve also' to spread the work laterally of its direction of feeding movement so that all portions thereof are maintained in extended condition suitable for the securing of uniform results in the cutting operations. i

In addition to the tensioning means the illustrated machine is provided, as already indicated, with means for positioning the material in desired relation to the cutting instrumentality along the line o-f cutting operations, the said means comprising a pair of abutment Amembers for engaging, without compressive effect and therefore without distortion of the work, opposite sides of the fabric closely adjacent to the cutting edge of the cutting instrumentality. Preferably andas shown, the abutment members are movable as a unit to position the fabric in predetermined relation with respect to the cutting edge of the cutting instrumentality, and movable with respect to each other properly to engage and back the materia-l along the line of cutting operations. Conveniently, the movable abutment members carry work feeding rolls as the chief elements of work feeding means forengaging and feeding the split portions of the work, the construction and arrangement being such that the feeding rolls, in cooperation with the bed plates, maintain both the split and the unsplit portions of the work as y grinder mechanism with which the illustrated machine is provided for sharpening the cutter, the illustrated adjusting means comprising connections by which the feeding means for the fabric effect adjustment of theV cutting instrumentality automatically as the machine continues in operation. f l

In the case of certain kinds of fabrics woven double as, for instance, carpets having `two foundation pieces -or base fabrics oined by piling woven'into andbetween `the base fabrics, it has been found that, from various causes, one or both of the base fabrics will become creased or corrugated. When this happens thetwo base fabrics are no longer Vuniformly spaced from each other. Vhen it is attempted to produce two carpets by severing the piling of a double carpet at a predetermined distance from one base fabric, imperfect results are not infrequently obtained Ydue to the fact that the cut piling over the corrugations o'r` creases in the base fabrics is of a different length than that over the uncorrugated or uncreased portion. To remove such c'orrugations or creases, I moisten oneor both base fabrics of the carpet before it `reaches the cutter and preferably before any tensioning ofthe carpet takes place. To practice this method, means is provided for steaming the fabric .before it reaches the cutter, the steaming means co-operating with described in detail and` feeding andtensioning means to effect effacement of the corrugations or creases so that` both base fabrics may be uniformly spaced throughout. Now, if the double woven fabric be properly positioned with respect to the cutter through the operation of the movable (abutment members as already described, two perfect carpets will result from the splitting operations.

These and other features of the invention and novel combinations of parts will now be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Y

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a machine embodyng the invention, taken alongthe line IV-I of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows; Y

Fig. 2 is an end view of the machine looking from the left in Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation, and

partly in section, looking at the machine from the right in Fig. 2; i

Fig. 4 is a view in end elevation showing the opposite end of the machine from that shown in' Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail of adjusting means for work positioning abutments with which the machine is-provided;

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail Views showing adjusting means for a stationary cutter or napevening mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a detail view kof an operating connection which enables a feed roll mechanism to control adjustment of the cutter;

Fig. 9 is a detail view along the line IX--IX of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the machine, similar to the view of Fig. 1 and showing an arrangement for Vsteaming a carpet or other fabric before it is subjected to cutting operations; and

Fig. 11 is a detail view of a surface of a steaming chest.

In thev illustrated splitting machine there is provided a cylindrical roller 10 mounted detachably in the frame of the machine and adapted to support a roll of carpet or other fabric to be cut, the fabric being indicated by the reference character 12. Upon reference to Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings it will be observed that a shaft 14 for the roller 10 is provided with a two-part journal 16 for each of its ends and supported in frame 18 of the machine, the two-part journal coniprising a clamp member 2O which Vis hinged to the frame 18 and is arranged to be secured in clamping relation to the shaft 14 by means of a bolt and winged nut 22. From the roller 10 the free end of the fabric 12 is led around an idler roll 24 (Fig. 1) supported at its ends by cross bars 26 2) detachably se cured to the machine frame 18. From the idler roll 24 the sheet material is passed upwardly between two brushes 28, 30 which rotate in opposite directions and engage oppo` site sides of the sheet material to brush the same free of any adhering particles and to exert a preliminary tensioning and spreading action upon the material before it is acted upon by spreading and tensioning means now to be described.

The spreading and tensioning means just referred to comprises a pair of bed plates 32, 34 each of which is slidably mounted for movement toward and from-the other. To provide for such sliding movement each bed plate has secured thereto a plurality of rollers 36 adapted to engage in guideways 38 in the form of grooves in frame members 40. Preferably, and as shown, each of the rollers 36 is the frustum of a cone with the large end of the frustum at the outside of each guideway 38, the purpose being to lessen vibration and secure a stable mounting for the bed llO plates. Asshown in Fig. 3 of the drawings veach bed plate is provided with a plurality of spreader grooves 44 and ribs 45 extending outwardly in diver-ging directions upon each side of the median line of the bed plate. Since the spreader grooves and ribs engage opposite sides of the piece of fabric simultaneously while tlielatter is moving in an upwardly direction between the bed plates, the material is not only retarded by reason of friction and thus placed under tension, but is spread in extended condition in directions laterally of the feeding movement. Means is provided for keeping the bed plates yieldingly pressed toward each other, the said means, in the construction shown, being identicalat each end of the machine and comprising a weighted bell crank lever 50 pivoted at 52 to the frame 18 of the machine and connected by a link 54 to the bed plate 82 and by another link 56 to the bed plate84. At its outer end, or adjacent thereto, the bell crank 50 carries a weight 58 adjustable thereon to vary the pressure on the bed plates. Between the weight 58 and the pivot 52 the bell crank 50 has pivotally connected thereto a link 60 the upper end of which is pivotally connected to a bell crank lever 62 pivoted at 64 to the machine frame 18 and connected by a link 66 to the bed plate 84 and by another link 68 to the upper end of the bed plate 82. It will be readily understood that the bell crank levers 50 and 62 connected by the link 60 serve, through the described connections, to press the bed plates 32, 84 yieldingly toward each other and that the pressure may be varied as desired, by shifting the weight 58 along the extended arm of the bell crank vlever 50.

Beyond the work tensioning and spreading means, described in the last paragraph, inthe direction of movement of the workthere is provided work positioning means for locating the work with respect to a cutter 70, the said means comprising, as shown, a pair of abutment members 7 2, 74 having work positioning abutment faces 76, 78. Preferably and as shown, the abutment members 7 2, 74 are adjustable with respect to each other and together with respect to the cutter 70. To accomplish these adjustments, each abutment member is provided with an interiorly threaded sleeve 80 with which there is engaged a screw threaded shaft 82, the screw on one side of the median line being lefthanded and on the other right-handed so that upon rotation of the shaft 82 in one direction the abutment members 72, 74 will be caused to approach each other while upon rotation of the shaft in the opposite direction the abutment members will be caused to recede from each other. For rotating the shaft 82 the latter is provided with a bevel gear 86 (Figs. 1 and 5) arranged to mesh with aVsecond bevel gear 88 secured to the upper end of a vertical shaft 90 when the latter is in the position shown in Fig. 5. For rotating the shaft 90 there is provided a hand wheel 92 secured to the lower end of the shaft in a position to be readily manipulated for adjustvment of the shaft 82, adjustment of the shaft resulting, as already described, in the positioning of the abutment members 72, 74 with respect to each other. Upon removing a stop portion 94 of a latch member 96 from beneath a collar 98 on the vertical shaft 90 by proper manipulation of'finger portion 100 of the latch member 96, the shaft 90 will drop downwardly to cause a bevel gear 102 carried fixedly hereby to mesh with a bevel gear 104 carried by a stub shaft 106 journaled in the frame of the machine. Carried by the same shaft 106 is a gear 108 arranged to mesh with the teeth of a rack bar 110 slidably mounted in guideways provided by the frame 18. Upon rotating the shaft 90 by means of the hand wheel 92 when the gear 102 is in mesh with the gear 104, the rack bar 110 is adjusted and by its adjustment it positions both abutment plates 72, 74 simultaenously since each is connected to a plate 112, both plates resting upon the rack bar in such manner ras to be carried thereby. Each member 72, 74 is secured in adjusted position by a clamp screw 111 (Figs. 1 and arranged to pass through a slot 118 in frame 18 to secure the member 72 or 74 after adjustment. lt will be readily understood then, that the abutment members 72, 74 may be adjusted relatively to each other to accommodate pieces of work of different thicknesses, through adjustment of the shaft 82, and that both abutment members 72, 74 may be adjusted together so as to position the central vertical plane of the space between the abutment faces 76, 78 directly in line with the thin cutting edge of the cutter 7 0.

Means is provided for keeping the split portions' 120 of the fabric 12 under tension so that these portions tension the fabric 12 along the line of operation of the cutting edge of the cutter 70 whereby the normally slack portions of the work are kept taut and in proper position for the cutting operation. In the construction shown for this purpose, there are provided feeding and tensioning rolls 122, 124, the cylindrical surface of each roll being provided with numerous pins 126 (F ig. 5) to engage with the fabric to pull it in a positive manner past thework tensioning and work positioning means already described. Conveniently, each' roll 122, 124 is mounted in its corresponding abutment member 72 or 74 so as to partake of the adjustment of the latter and remain always in predetermined relation to its associated abutment member. Means is provided for rotating the pin rolls 122, 124 continuously in their respective directions of rotation as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, the said means comprising sprocket Vwheels 130,132

(Fig. 4).

For co-operation withthe pin rolls 122, 124 in feeding'the split portions 120 ofthe fabric away from the cutter 70 and for maintaining the split portions under proper tension, there are provided power drivenwind ing vrollers 140, one for 'each of the pin rolls 122, 124. As shown in the drawings, the split portions of the fabric are wound upon the rollers 140 through rotation of the rollers Vin the proper` direction by power means 'coin-k prisinga pulley 142 (Figs. 2 and 8) arranged to be driven from any suitable source of power and at a higher speed than. that of the pin rolls 122, 124.l Upon reference to Figs. 3 and 9 ofthe drawings it will be observed that the pulley 142 is inountedfiXedly upon a sleeve member 144 which is rotatable upon a shaft 146 which supports and drives the roller 140. As shown, the sleeve member 144 is provided .with an enlarged portion 148 in which is positioned. a plurality of clutch plates, certain of ,the plates indicated by reference character 150 being secured to the sleeve portionu148 to rotate therewith while other clutch plates indicated by reference character 152 are keyed to the shaft 146, the

, two sets of clutch plates being arranged alternately to engage with each oth i frictionally faceto face under yielding pressure exerted by a presser member 154 which is engaged by a spring 156 held under tension by adjusting and lock nuts 158. It will be clear that the purpose of the friction clutch j'ust described is to permit slipping of the pulley 142 on 'the Y shaft 146 whilethe pulley is being driven at a higher rate of speed than its associated pin wheel 122 or 124. i In this way a constant tension on the Vsplit material is maintained' during a nap evening operation (hereinafter described) and during winding of the fabric upon the roller 140.`

. After the split fabric leaves the pin roller 122 or 124 on each side of the cutter 70 it passes over a table 160 and. is subjected toa brushing operation through the Voperation ofa brush 162 joui'naled at its ends inthe fra-me ofthe machine- At this point a pneumatic suction device is provided for remov' ing particlesof the nap or piling which have become broken or ,otherwise separated in the cutting action, the said pneumatic suction device 'being represented in the drawings by the pipe connection 164. Between the brush just mentioned-*andv thev winding roller 140 there is provided, in the construction shown,

means for evening the napped surface of the fabric in case any of the piles have broken or been cut too long, the said means comprising a stationary blade 170 and a rotarylbladed member 17 2 co-operating therewith to cut the nap fibres of excess length all to the saine length as th-e whole body of piling. Preferably, and as shown, the fabric is supported vsweep along the edge ofthe stationary blade 170 to eect cutting of any nap fibres of excess length. l-llere again the neumatic suction device already spoken of is employed to carry off portions of the fibres, as indicated by the pipe connection 17 6. In order that the knife 170 may be readily adjusted to position it for efficient co-operation with the bladed cylinder 17 2 and in order that it may be adjusted to take care of wear it is mounted in a block member 180 provided with screw threaded members 182, 184 for adjustment of the block 180 in an upward direction and in a direction to carrythe knife toward the bladed cylinder 172. Furthermore, the knife 17 0 is arranged to be backed by set screws, one of which is shown at 186, locked in position by a lock nut 188 Awhich may be loosened to permit adjusting movement of the screw 186 and then again locked after adjustment has been made.` A

. Preferably, and as shown, the cutter is of the endless band knife type arranged to pass around two large wheels 200 one at each end of the machine. Uponpreferring to Fig. 8 of the drawings, it will be observedt that the wheel 200 at the left Aend of the inachine is provided with a driving shaft 202 the lower part of which is enclosed in a sleeve 204 keyed to the shaft to rotate therewith, the sh aft 202 being vertically slidable within the sleeve.` VSecured to the lower end of. the sleeve 204 is a bevel pinion 206 arranged in mesh with a bevel gear 208 secured to a sleeve y 210 which surrounds andis keyed to one end of a shaft 212 which serves as the main shaft of the machine, the said shaft being provided with a pulley 214' adapted to be driven from any suitable source of power. At its upper end the sleeve 204 is journaled in a bearing 216 for rotation therein, being held from vertical movement by the nut 218 and the fixed collar 220. At its upper end 'the shaft 202 is secured to an exteriorly screw threaded member 222 which passes freely through Aa bearing 224 inthe machine frame to be enof bearing 224 by cross bars 236. A screw threaded sleeve 240 is fixed to another vertical shaft 242 which carries the other wheel 200 at the other end of the machine, and4 upon j the sleeve 240 is a worm gear 243 which is be operated to raise or to lower simultaneously the screw threaded members 222, 240. Such raising or lowering of the screw threaded members 222, 240 will result in raising or lowering of shafts 202, 242 and the wheels 200, and perforce, of the belt knife or cutter 70. )While this operation may be accomplished manually, means is provided in the illustrated construction for accomplishing` the adjustment of the belt knife 7 0 automatically so'that as the knife is worn through grinding by grinding rolls 250, 252 (Fig. 2) it may be adjusted downwardly so as to maintain always the desired relation to the abutment surfaces at 76, 78 (Fig. 1) and to the fabric as it passes between and over said surfaces. For this purpose 'the ratchet wheel 130 for operating pin roll 122 is provided with an eccentric stud 254 (Figs. 4 and 8) to which is pivoted a pitman 256 which passes through a lsleeve 258 pivotally carried by a lever 260 pivoted upon the rod 230, the lever 260 carryinga pair of pawls 262 for engagement with teeth of a ratchet wheel 264 fixed upon the shaft 230. As'shown, the lever 260 is operated by theA pitman 256 yieldingly through spring 263 on the pitman. As before stated, rotation of the rod 230 will cause movement in a vertical direction of both of the wheel carrying shafts 202, 242 with resultant adjustment of the wheels 200 and of the belt knife carried thereby. It will be readily understood that the amount of downward movement of the belt knife for each rotation of the pin roll 122'is very small indeed, just sufficient to make proper allowance for the grinding and wearing away of the cutting edge of the band knife 70.

At the same time that the belt knife 70 is adjusted downwardly a plurality ofbacking plates 270 (Figs. 1 and 3) are alsoadjusted downwardly so as to afford a backingfor thef knife 70y along intermediateparts of the band knife between the wheels 200. `Were lit not for these backing plates 270 the band knife would yield upwardly and 4 fail'to perform mesh with a worm 2,76 on a vrod 278 which is arrangedto be driven by a chain 280 (Fig. 4) extending from a. sprocket' wheel (not Shown) on the shaft 230 to be driven by the said shaft', the other end of the, chain 280 being arranged in engagement with a sprocket wheel 282 upon the shaft 278. Since the shaft 278 is driven at the same rate as the shaft 230, which causes lowering of the band knife 70, the backing plates 270 will also be adjusted downwardly at the same rate to keep in contactwith the band knife 70. For a moredetailed description of the means for adjustingthe backing plates 270 reference maybe had to United States Let-ters Patent No. 626,858 'granted June 13, 1899, to A. A. Chilson. y

Conveniently', also, the grinding Wheels 250, 252 are adjusted with respect to each other as they wear away in grinding operations upon the band knife 70, this being accomplished by mechanism not herein disclosed since it is preferably of the type shown in the said Chilson patent. Itis pointed out, however, that 'the adjusting means for the grinding wheels 250, 252 is controlled from the shaft 230 which causes adjustment of the bland knife, the said controlling and operating means comprising a chain 290 2) arranged to engage with a sprocket-292 on theshaft 230 and with a sprocket 294 on a shaft 296 from which the adjusting means foi-.the grinders 250, 252 is operated.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the shaft 212 at the end opposite to that which carries the pulleyT 214 is provided with a sprocket wheel 300 4) around'which passes a chain 302 for engagement with a sprocket wheel 304 on a counter shaft 306 from which theshafts for the various feed rolls and brushes are driven through chain connect-ions not necessary todescribe, but clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

ln certain classes of double woven carpet it has been found that one of the base fabrics which are united Vby the piling of the carpet is commonly creased or corrugated with the result that the two base fabrics are not uniformlyspaced from each other, being nearer together at the creases or corrugations. In attempting to split such a carpetw in exactly equal parts to form two carpets, it is found that the cut pilingv over the corrugated or creased portions is short-er than it should be. This, of course, isobjectionable and results in a product of greatly reduced quality. For removing the'creases or corrugations from such carpets, applicant has provided a new way of treating the carpetiwhich comprises y the step of steamingthe carpet, preferably after brushing the same, and before it is subjected to the splitting operation. For steaming the carpet there is provided a steaming arrangement of one or more steam chests. In

order to utilize the space to the best advan- Y e; theaeutmeet surfaces faence@ keep. i?

i the lother. Referring toflilig.V` 10 of tliedrawings, itwill beobserved that 4the carpet 12 on .the .roll 10 is passed first over an 'idler roll v3.2() andthen between brushes 322,324 corresponding exactly to brushes 28 and 30 of Figf'l of the drawings..` From the brushes the carpet passes over a second idler roll 326 and then downwardly through a steaming means, consisting of two steam chests 328,

having each a perforated wall 332, as indicated in Fig. l0, and as more clearly shownA inFig; 1L Each chest is` supplied by steamv of the chest, a`nV same' arrangement of steam inlet and 'outletVV pipes, the steam `chests 340, 342 Abeing arranged in vertical alinement with the bed plates`32, 34 so that the carpet passes from the steamnchests vertically between the bed plates. .1F rom'the bed plates it passes between the abutment members 72, 74 and {inally to the cutter in the manner and for the purpose. .described m the vforegoing part of this specification.`

` `In introducing a piece of fabric, such as a piece ofcarpet, into the machine, it is usual tomake use of selvageportions provided for the purpose at' one `end of the fabric to engage `with the ,fabric `feeding means beyond the cutter. Villien the selvage ends have been passed between the plates32, 34, also be-A tween the abutment members 7 2 .and 74 and engagedywith Athe power driven rollers 140,

the machineis ready for operation. The va# rious operations may be briefly recapitulated 1 as follows wIfroInthe roll l0 the fabric passes over the idler roller 24 and then between n, the brushes 28 an`d30 where all foreign bodies are removedrfrom both surfaces of the fabric. l'

, I'fl any-foreign body were perinitted'toV rei Amain itrmight `get to theabutment surface at 7.6l c1478 and by `"displacing the carpet fabric i from smooth contactwith said surface cause uneven cutting of the nap or pile. Continu- Y in g `itsfupward ourney4 the .fabricpasses betweeii thebedlplates32, 34 which are pro-V f vided :withsprealding blades 44 by .which the l fabric is *spread` out laterally in eXtended con-Y dition and atthe same timekept under tension,` :1 Afterpassing overvtheabutment surfaces-fatfY, 7,8,o'nthe abutment members .72"Y L and/Z4respectivelythe'fabric meets the cut` co1- tei" Oxwhich f is usually,v positioned ;in the median line between the abutment surfaces so as to severthe fabric exactly in the-middle. t Forfmaintainingthe `fabric under ten sion to lrecpA it properly positioned against suitably tensioned. for the cutting operation there areprovided the pin :feeding rollsl22, 124 with which co-operate the power driven rollers 140 to keep the split portions of the fabric under proper tension and to assist in.-

feeding the fabric tothe lrnife or cutter 70' preceding piece of work before the said rear* end has passed beyond reach into the machine. Thus the machine may continue to opcrate with little or no interruption on practically endless lengths of fabric.

VHaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Let ters Patent of the United States is:

l. In a machine for operating upon carpet-s', a cutter, means for feeding the carpet to the cutter, means for tensioning the lcarpet to keep it in proper alinement with the cutter, and means for steaming the carpet so that the tensioning means may readily dispose theA carpet in one plane with the backing fabric thereof at a uniform distance from the cutter asv it passes the latter.

2. In a machine kfor splitting the piling between-the base fabrics of a double woven carpet, a cutter, means for feeding the double woven carpet to the cutter, means for en gaging withpressure a portion of the uncut carpet to tension Vthe carpet, means constructed and arranged to engage the carpet without compressive effect and operative to position the carpet with respect to the cutter alongthe line lof cutting operations, and means for adjusting the positioning means and securing it in adjusted position. so that it will be non-compressive with respect to the carpet atV oradjacent to thev lineof cut.V

3; Iny a machine for splitting the piling between the base fabrics of a double woven carpet,- a cutter, means for applying tension to the carpet before it 'reaches the cutter,

`means for pulling the `carpet .toward and against the cutting edge, ofthe cutter,` and means for moistening the carpet so thatthe pull on the carpet` against theresistance of the tensioning` means will serve to remove cor-V rugations or Ioldssin the carpet. y

i 4. rIn amachine for splitting the piling between the base fabrics of a double woven carpet, a cutter, means for applying tensionY Vto theyV carpet before itreaches the cutter,`

means for pulling the fabric toward and againstthe cutting edge of the cutter, abut-` ments independent of the tensioning means and Ylocated?closely adjacent to the cutter.

pressive effect to position the carpet so, askto (opera-tive to engage the carpet without com-4` areas thereof to exert a retarding action onv the carpet whereby the latter is placed under tension in resisting the pull of the feeding means, abutments located closely adjacent to the cutter for positioning the carpet with respect thereto, said abutments being adjustable-with respect to each other and to the cutter, and means for securing the abutments inzadjusted position so that they will not eX- ert av compressive effect on the carpet at or adjacent to the line of cut.

6. In a machine for splitting the piling between the basefabrics of a double woven carpet, cutting means comprisin Y a cutter, means on opposite sides of the cutter for feeding the carpet toward and against the cutting edge of the cutter, and positioning members for the carpet one on each side or the cutter and each having an abutment face located in predetermined relation to the cutting edge ofthe cutter, the feeding means and the positioning member on one side of thcutter being mounted for movement together in directions toward and from the cutter'.

7. In amachine for splitting the piling between the base fabrics of. a double woven carpet, feed rolls located at opposite sides of the cutter for engaging'the split portions of the carpet to feed the latter to the cutter, positioningmembers located at opposite sides of the cutter for directing the carpet to the cutter in predetermined relation to the' cutting edge of the latter, and means for mounting a feed roll and a positioning member together for movement as a unit toward or away from the cutter.

8. In a machine for splitting the piling between the base fabrics of a double woven carpet, cutting means comprising a cutter, a single feed roll on each side of the cutter for engaging with split portions of the carpet to pull the carpet toward and against the cutting edge of the cutter, means for engaging with the carpet before it is split operative in conjunction with the feed rolls to' tension the carpet so that the piling thereof may be kept taut for the operation of the cutter, and a yieldingly actuated winding roller for each split portion of the carpet arranged to cooperate with the feed roll on the same side of the cutter to feed the split portion of the carpet and keep it under proper tension.

9. In a machine for splitting the piling between the base fabrics of a double Woven carpet, cutting means comprising a cutter, means on each side of the cutter for feeding the carpet toward and against the cutting edge of the cutter, and positioning members for the carpet located on opposite sides of the cutter and each having an abutment face located in predetermined relation to the cutting edge of the cutter, said positioning members and feeding means being adjustable as a unit with respect to the cutter and also adjustable relatively to each other in sets on opposite sides of the cutter.

l0. ln a machine for splitting the piling between the base fabrics of a double woven carpet, cutting means comprising a cutter, means for applying tension to the carpet before it reaches the cutter, feed rolls on opposite sides of the cutter for feeding the work to the cutter, means for positioning the carpet comprising abutment members located closely adj acent to the cutter on opposite sides reef so as to predetermine the line of cut .vith respect to the base fabrics of the carpet, and means for mounting the feed rolls and the abutment members in sets on opposite sides of the cutter so that a feed roll and an abutment member on one side of the cutter may be adjusted as a unit with respect to the other roll and abutment member.

ll. In a machine for splitting' the piling between the base fabrics of a double woven carpet, cutting means comprising an endless band cutter, wheels rotatable about vertical for supporting the operative run of the cutter in a vertical plane, means for feeding the carpet to the cutter by pulling in an upward direction upon the split ends ofthe carpet, a pair of abutment members the cutter for engaging opposite sides of the double carnet to position the latter with respect to the cutter, the feeding means andthe Labutment members co-operating to spread the carpet at or adaj cent to the line of cut.

12. In a machine forsplitting the piling between the base fabrics of a double woven carpet, cutting means comprising an endless band cutter arrangedto have its operative run in a vertical plane with its cutting edge pointing downwardly, feed rolls for engaging with split portions of the carpet to-pull the carpet upwardly toward and against the cutting edge of the cutter, and ribbed pressure plates below the cutter for engaging the base fabrics of the carpet to spread the carpet ,in lateral directions and to resist movebelow ment of the carpet bythe feed rolls and there by place it under tension.

13. In a machine for splitting the piling between the base fabrics of a double woven carpet, cutting means comprising a cutter, means for feeding the carpet toward and against the cutting edge of the cutter, pre sure plates for engaging the base fabrics of the carpet to resist movement ofthe carpet by the feed rolls and thereby place it under tension, and means for steaming the carpet befort it reaches the cutter.

14, In a machine for splitting the piling between the base fabrics of a double woven carpet, cutting means comprising a cutter, means for feeding the carpet toward and against the cutting edge ofthe cutter, pressure plates for engaging thebase fabrics of the carpet to resist movement'of the carpet and thereby place it under tension, and steam chests for steaming the carpetrbefore it reaches the pressure plates.

15. In a machine for splitting the piling between the base fabrics of a double weven carpet, means for cutting the piling between the base fabrics, means for tensioning the can pet and feeding it to the cutting means, means forsteaming the carpet before it reaches the i A grip of the feeding and tensioning means, and

' thereof, and cutting the piling while it is unf means for evening the surface of the piling by clipping Vwhile it is still moist frointhe steaming operation.`

1,6.VV That improvement in methods of splitting a fabric woven double withpiling between two` base vfabrics which comprises, steaming one of the base fabrics and placing it under tension to efface any crease or coi'- rugation in the steamed base fabric, and cutting the piling between the base fabrics while the fabrics are under tension.

`17. That improvement .in methods of splitsion and while the body of the fabric is moist andV undertension soi as to secure a uniform lengthV to the piling of each severed part of the'double wovenfabric. Y

, 18. That improvement in methods ofsplit ting a fabric woven double with piling bef tween two base fabrics which comprises', placing an intermediate portion of the body of a double Vwoven fabric under pressure, pulling on an end portion ofthe double woven fabric `to produce tension in the two base fabrics,

moistening the fabric, placing the piling under tension in a direction longitudinally der'tensionlat a predeterminedl distance from one of the basejfabrics.

19.V In a machine for splitting fabrics, cutY ting means 'comprising a beltknife, means edge of the belt knife, and means controlled by the feeding means for adjusting the belt" knife so as to maintain its cutting edge al-lgo ways in the saine position relative to the carpet.

21. In a machine for splitting the piling between the base fabrics of a double woven carpet, cutting means comprising a belt knife,

means for feeding the carpet comprising a roll having pins for engaging and moving the carpet towardand against the cutting edge of the knife, and connections between the pin roll and the beltknife for adjusting the latter to maintain its cutting edge always at the saine level. with respect to the carpet.

22. In a machine for splitting the piling between the base fabrics of a double woven carpet, cutting means comprising a belt knife, a pair of wheels for supporting and operating the knife and shafts for supporting the wheels, means for feeding the carpet toward and against the cutting edge of the knife comprising a roll having pins for engaging the carpet, and coniiect-ions between the pin roll and one of the shafts of the knife supporting wheels for causing adjustment ofboth wheels to move the knife 'adjustingly so as to maintain its cutting edge always at the same level with respect to the carpet.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification.

HARRIE A.V BALLARD. 

